Newsround: what Wednesday's papers say

Trump claims right to share intelligence and €200,000 feared stolen in latest credit union case

Wednesday's papers

The top stories in Wednesday's newspapers:

THE IRISH TIMES

- The paper reports that the White House has moved to limit the damage from the latest controversy to engulf the Trump administration yesterday following reports that president Donald Trump share classified information with the Russian foreign minister during a meeting in the Oval Office last week. Trump took to Twitter to defend his actions, stating that he had "the absolute right" to share "facts" with Russia.

- It also says that candidates for the Fine Gael leadership are to be compelled to abide by a "fair play contract" that will attempt to keep the contest to succeed Enda Kenny as party leader clean. A document will be drawn up by the party hierarchy over the coming days if Kenny stands aside as party leader today.

- More than 56,000 vehicles were clamped on public roads in the Dublin City Council area last year, an average of 153 a day, bringing in more than €4.2 million for the local authority. Mespil Road in Dublin 2 was the street where a vehicle was most likely to be clamped, the paper says.

- An independent root-and-branch review of An Garda Síochána will not issue a final report for 16 months but may give the government a series of rolling recommendations. Kathleen O'Toole, the chief of police in Seattle who is to chair the 12-person commission, said it would be the most ambitious review of Irish policing since the foundation of the state.

FINANCIAL TIMES

- The paper reports that the British Labour Party has offered a radical alternative to voters in next month's general election, saying it would raise £49 billion to fund a matching increase in public spending and renationalise chunks of industry. The party's manifesto, launched in Bradford, would see Britain's tax take rise to its highest level as a share of gross domestic product since 1949.

- It also reports that Lloyds Banking Group was finally returned to the private sector yesterday when the government sold its remaining tranche of the stake acquired in a £20.3 billion state bailout during the financial crisis. The sell-off left taxpayers with a £500 million profit.

- Europe's top court has ruled that a key EU-Singapore agreement requires backing by all EU member states but only for a narrow set of issues in a decision that could chart the way for a post-Brexit trade accord with the UK. The ECJ ruled that EU member states must sign off on specific areas related to investment in the Singapore trade deal.

- In its Companies & Markets section, the paper reports that EasyJet plunged into its worst first-half loss for six years as the weak pound and timing of Easter weighed heavily on the low-cost airline. Shares in the airline fell by 7.25 per cent to £12.15 after pre-tax losses widened to £236 million for the six months to the end of March.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

- The paper reports that Minister Shane Ross has failed to meet with any of his British or EU counterparts since the Brexit vote last year. The Minister for Tourism and Transport has revealed that only his civil servants have met with EU and British government representatives.

- Gardaí have been called into another credit union hit by suspected fraud with accounts believed to have been raided by a staff member. Gurranabraher Credit Union in Cork is understood to have lost €200,000, the paper says, and will now have to make an insurance claim to refund members.

- In its business section, the paper reports that Ireland stands to gain more foreign direct investment as a result of Brexit while the public finances here have been on a continuously improving trend that's set to continue over the coming years, according to ratings agency Moody's.

- It also says that English premier league club Manchester United raised its full-year revenue and profit forecast as it prepares for the Europa League final next week. The club now expects to report sales of between £560 million and £570 million for 2016-17, ahead of its previous forecast.

IRISH EXAMINER

- The paper leads with the story that Gurranabraher is the second credit union in the past week to confirm a Garda probe, reporting that a staff member has been dismissed after the discovery of alleged financial irregularities of up to €200,000. Last week, it emerged that more than €400,000 was stolen from members' accounts at Synergy Credit Union in Fermoy.

- It also says that Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald is "very disturbed" that Fianna Fáil would sack Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan immediately if the party gains power, dubbing it "profoundly undemocratic".

- Brexit will trigger a tenfold increase in customs declarations on Irish soil and fresh checkpoints close to the border are being considered for when Britain leaves the EU, the head of Revenue has said.

- A dramatic rise in the use of computers and social media is damaging the health of young people, the World Health Organisation has said. Experts say such use is increasing the risk of ill health and the vast majority of young people are failing to take the recommended level of exercise each day.